Gold Coast Commonwealth Games encourages BIM investment

The 2018 Commonwealth Games have prompted a significant amount of infrastructure investment in Queensland. What role will BIM play?

The Gold Coast will set the scene for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, an event that is spurring the country's design and construction industries into action.

With just a few short years until the city has to be ready for an influx of athletes and spectators, various infrastructure investments are already underway. The range of projects necessary to ensure an event of this scale runs smoothly provides a perfect platform for Autodesk software and the associated workflow processes to prove their value.

From aquatic centres to living accommodations, there are a number of projects already underway that are likely to remain a significant focus for the state's construction industry.

Sports stadiums utilise building information modellingBuilding information modelling (BIM) is a workflow process that seeks to provide designers with a means to collaborate and communicate more effectively during a project. The end result is a creation that's more time and cost effective to produce.
Major sporting structures such as the Queensland State Velodrome are perfect for businesses to test out BIM's application, especially in situations such as the Gold Coast Games, where there is a significant deadline.

The role Autodesk software can play in the production of infrastructure developments such as sports stadiums was illustrated by Castro Mello Architects. Designers from the firm said the AutoCAD product in particular was essential for creating National Stadium Brasilia in time for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

According to representatives from Castro Mello Architects, the project required seven individual teams to unite their efforts. Partner at the firm Vicente Castro Mello stated Autodesk was invaluable at this stage.

"AutoCAD was critical in the design of the National Stadium Brasilia," he explained. "With a project of this size, there were many stakeholders who provided design input. AutoCAD's flexibility allowed us to incorporate these changes quickly and efficiently." View the video below for further insights from this project:

BIM also played a significant role in delivering these major sports stadium projects:

Infrastructure for Queensland
The 2018 Commonwealth Games has also prompted a significant amount of infrastructure investment, which will benefit the state in the long run. BIM for infrastructure will play a significant role in ensuring infrastructure is delivered on time, within budget and meeting the communities needs during and beyond the Commonwealth Games. So far, these developments have been defined by the Light Rail project that intends to unite Brisbane with the Gold Coast.

The project is currently in its second stage, a $95 million extension that will be complete in time for the Commonwealth Games. Minister for Transport Jackie Trad said the development has had a notable effect on the state.

"Light rail has become the backbone of the public transport network and Stage 1 has driven a 25 percent increase in public transport patronage on the Gold Coast in the first year alone," she said.